About
CleanAlgae2Value

The CleanAlgae2Value project is a CBE JU Innovation Action funded project seeking to optimize the utilization of microalgae potential via a cascading approach to produce white-microalgae-derived medium-price ingredients, using solely CO2 as a carbon source.
Project Objectives
Meet the partners

Project overview

CleanAlgae2Value will be demonstrating a cost competitive, sustainable, scalable intensified micro algae bioprocess for the production of food-grade, medium value, carbon negative ingredients exceeding market standards. Our strategic target is to develop a cascading approach to produce white-microalgae-derived, medium-price ingredients, using solely CO2 as a carbon source. Our end goal is to build a replicable module, to enhance relevant biorefineries’ performance through a cost-competitive, sustainable, and scalable microalgae fractionation and valorization process. Our Micro-Algae Biorefinery Upgrade Module – MABUM – will unlock the production of ingredients including protein isolates, oils, natural pigments and starch to be validated by the food and packaging industries.

CleanAlgae2Value
objectives

The project aims to develop innovative processes, create new ingredients, improve resource efficiency, and actively engage stakeholders across the value chain.

Develop innovative
processes

CleanAlgae2Value works on advanced processing routes designed to be efficient, scalable, and suitable for industrial implementation.

Create new
ingredients

The project supports the development of microalgae-based carbon negative ingredients tailored for food and packaging applications.

Improve resource
efficiency

CleanAlgae2Value focuses on reducing resource use and environmental impact throughout the production process.

Engage key
stakeholders

The project actively involves industry, researchers, and other stakeholders to support knowledge exchange and future uptake.

Our approach

CleanAlgae2Value follows a structured approach that links research, demonstration, and impact.

Design and
integration

Microalgae are a fast-growing, renewable resource with a strong potential to support sustainable production systems.

Demonstration and
validation

By optimising each step, CleanAlgae2Value aims to deliver ingredients that meet functional, quality, and regulatory expectations for real applications.

Upscaling and
impact

CleanAlgae2Value contributes to the development of bio-based alternatives that reduce reliance on fossil-based materials.

Project Partners

CleanAlgae2Value brings together 15 partners from 9 European countries, including research institutions, technology providers, and industry actors, each contributing specific expertise to the project.

solmeyea

bbepp

DTU

cnta

chalmers

KNOELL

cpi

euro funding

Magfi

TECNOPACK

delta

hooked

Juicy Marbles

eroski

Ausolan

Want to know more?

Find out more about the project, its applications, and future opportunities.

Innovation & Applications

SOLMEYEA

We are solving The CO₂ Paradox:

Industries pay billions to manage CO₂ as waste, yet it is a valuable carbon feedstock. SOLMEYEA’s patented platform transforms emissions into feed for microalgae, creating dual revenue streams from carbon credits and high-value products. We are not just reducing emissions; moreover, we are monetizing them.

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

Jens Dedeyne is Project Acquisition Coordinator at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Ghent, Belgium. He focuses on project acquisition and project management of innovation projects with a focus on CCU, biofuels, RFNBO, etc., exploring the interface between the classical chemical industry and biotech to come to new, more sustainable value chains. He holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and obtained a PhD in chemical reaction engineering and reactor design.

Technical University of Denmark

Hariklia Gavala is Chemist with a PhD in Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, respectively, University of Patras, Greece). She is currently Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark. Her research focus is in Biorefinery Conversions with emphasis on production of biofuels, bulk chemicals and materials (bioplastics) from biomass including industrial effluents as well as on developing the syngas and CO2 platform towards biotechnological applications. Dr. Gavala has expertise in anaerobic digestion, conventional and gas fermentation processes with axenic cultures and mixed microbial consortia, pre-treatment methods, kinetics and modeling as well as membrane application in biorefineries. Prof. Gavala has obtained two Marie Curie fellowships and in 2010 was nominated for the “EliteForsk-priser” from the Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering of Aalborg University in Denmark. Prof. Gavala has participated in more than 25 research projects funded by national and international funding agencies. She has published more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 4 book chapters (h-index 38 according to All Databases, WoS) and she has made more than 150 contributions in international scientific conferences, workshops and meetings with Academia and Industry. Since 2024, Prof. Gavala has been included in Stanford’s/Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientists database in the field of Enabling & Strategic Tech. and subfields of Biotechnology and Energy.

Dr. Ioannis Skiadas is a Chemical Engineer and an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark. He holds a PhD in Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Technology from the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Greece. His research focuses on the design of biotechnological processes for the conversion of biomass residues as well as carbon gas emissions into chemicals, fuels and materials. Dr. Skiadas has obtained 2 Marie Curie fellowships and has expertise in reactor fermentations; biorefineries; biogas production; biological treatment of municipal, agricultural and industrial liquid and gas emissions; mass and energy balances; mathematical simulation and up-scaling of biotechnological processes. He has published more than 90 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and 3 book chapters (h-index 36 according to All Databases, WoS), and he has made more than 120 contributions in international scientific conferences and workshops.

CNTA

Mónica Mendiola Lanao, doctor in Agricultural and Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Engineer, and Master’s Degree in Quality and Technology in the Agri-Food Industry. Since 2017, she has been part of CNTA’s R&D&I department as a Food Processes Researcher with extensive experience in the coordination and technical development of research and innovation projects in the food sector at regional, national, and European level. Of particular note is her technical coordination of the European projects OLIVESOUND, MODEL2BIO, and BBTWINS.

Chalmers University of Technology

Mehdi Abdollahi is an Associate Professor of Food Science at Chalmers University of Technology, specializing in sustainable food innovation, including protein technology, hybrid foods, and food biotechnology. He leads a multidisciplinary research group working at the forefront of alternative proteins and microbial discovery. With over a decade of experience in developing biomass fractionation technologies for food applications, he integrates downstream processing, molecular characterization, biotechnology, and advanced analytical tools to create novel protein sources with enhanced functionality, nutritional quality, and sensory performance. Abdollahi has secured substantial competitive funding, collaborates broadly with industry and academia, and actively contributes to European initiatives aimed at building future-proof, resilient, and sustainable food systems.

Knoell

Ronnie Juraske holds an engineering degree in Biotechnology and a PhD in Environmental Engineering. Ronnie has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Life Cycle Assessment, impact assessment, and carbon- and environmental foot-printing. He actively contributes to developments related to the SSbD-approach. In his role as Strategic Advisor at knoell Ronnie assists clients to define, assess and report on their sustainability related topics. In the CleanAlgae2Value project, Ronnie, together with his knoell colleagues, will contribute to tasks related to environmental, economic and societal sustainability assessment.

Oliver Spaniol holds a degree in Economics and Conservation Biology with focus on Sustainability Management. Oliver has ten years of experience in the regulatory field especially related to REACH and exposure & risk assessments. At knoell, Oliver is a Group leader for the product safety & stewardship and the sustainability solutions lead. In his role he is the first contact person for sustainability projects. Together with his colleagues, Oliver supports the CleanAlgae2Value project in the implementation of SSbD principles and the assessment of sustainability performance.

Joan holds a BsC in Environmental Sciences from Polytechnic University of Valencia and a MsC in Environmental Engineering from University of Santiago de Compostela. He is specialized in environmental assessment and experienced in Life Cycle Assessment methodology in different areas (food, industrial production, water treatment, mobility, waste management, energy production, steel production and new materials development, among others), with high expertise using SimaPro Software. Along with his colleagues at knoell, he will contribute to tasks focused on assessing environmental, economic, and societal sustainability.

CPI

Alex Smith – Director of Biotechnology

Alex is a chartered chemical engineer and modelling & simulation expert, experienced in the design, build, commissioning and operation of processes at multiple scales and across multiple industries. As Director of Biotechnology Alex is responsible for leading a team of 80 technical specialists including engineers, scientists and process technicians, to support a range of commercial clients and collaborative partners to scale up their Biotech and Process Chemistry processes.

Reza Ranjbar – Head of Technology Strategy 

Reza has over 20 years’ industrial experience in large corporates, SMEs, research institutes and academia as technical manager, consultant, scientist, biochemical engineer and assistant professor. He has led more than 30 commercial projects and 18 European funded projects in the field of food/biotechnology.

Stephen Wright – Manager- Downstream processing.

Steve has over 20 years’ industrial experience in the pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology industries as a scientist & biochemical engineer. Stephen leads the team responsible for delivering a wide range of projects surrounding laboratory-scale DSP development through to pilot and demonstration scale.  

David Rae – Senior Process Engineer

David is a Chartered Chemical Engineer with over 19 years’ experience specialising in process design, optimisation and scale-up. At CPI David leverages this experience working closely with clients to translate innovative science into scalable, investable processes, supporting faster commercialisation and more confident decision-making.

Jonathan Gunnell – Project Manager

Jonathan is a project manager with experience of delivering a range of public and commercially funded projects in the biotechnology and sustainable materials sector. Jonathan has experience in business development and commercial sales and has a technical background in downstream purification covering large scale manufacture and research and development.

Magfi

Magfi ltd ‘Sustainability in Action’ is a boutique advisory firm specialised in supporting innovators (both post seed startups and scale ups) within the biotech, foodtech and cleantech space. Leveraging its distinctive ability to operate both in commercial (B2B) services and within publicly funded projects (B2G), Magfi brings to fruition its team members decade-long experiences operating within the European bioeconomy space in order to help the consortium communicate its results effectively, identify and fine tune the PROSPLIGN KER unique value proposition.

Tecno Packaging

Laura Villacián is a Chemical and Process Engineer specializing in EU Project Management for biomaterials, sustainability, and circular economy. She holds a Master’s in Chemical and Process Engineering and has over five years of experience managing European-funded projects, having completed advanced training in European Project Management, including a Postgraduate Degree and the CDTI-SOST specialization program in Brussels. She works at Tecnopackaging as an EU Project Manager and Proposal Developer. Her main responsibility is to drive innovation and the development of sustainable solutions, concentrating on advanced biopolymer materials and their transformation processes. Her work involves the planning, execution, and monitoring of numerous EU projects (such as TERRIFIC, UPSTREAM, and REDOL), which are focused on developing next-generation bio-based packaging and circular solutions for microplastic prevention.

 

Laura Nadal holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD in Food Science and Technology, specializing in microbiology, food preservation, and molecular biology. Her prior experience includes roles as a quality and lab technician at a cheese factory , an R&D technician developing allergen detection tests and post-harvest analytics , and an advisor on export legislation. She also accumulated over five years as Teaching and Research Staff in a microbiology lab. She works as an R&D Technician in sustainable solutions at Tecnopackaging. Her expertise is crucial for the design and development of products related to the food industry, fundamentally focusing on areas such as packaging intended for food contact, with special attention to ensuring the packaging complies with the latest regulations.

Delta Foods

Artemi Chatzigeorgiou 

R&D & Packaging Development Director (DELTA FOODS SA) 

MEng Chemical Engineering National NTUA, MEng Food Processing TU Karlsruhe, 30-year experience in R&D in F&B sector, Representative in Scientific Committees in the Greek Food Industry Association (SEVT), SEVT’s Representative in FDE in Nutrition, Consumers & Health Working Groups. Her passion is the continuous learning and improvement of the food system through development of sustainable products of high quality and high nutritional value.  

LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/artemi-chatzigeorgiou-40531122b 

Hooked

Tom is an engineer and founder with experience working with global FMCG leaders including P&G and BCG. Seven years ago, he launched Hooked Foods to transform the protein industry by creating alternative proteins that are healthier, more sustainable, and price-competitive with traditional meat. 


Hugo is an engineer and senior operations leader with experience from Lantmännen, specializing in FMCG industrialization. He has led production scale-ups and product development initiatives, and managed end-to-end supply chain, co-manufacturing, and logistics to deliver high service levels and improved cost efficiency.

Juicy Marbles

Katra Šilc is the Head of Legal at Juicy Marbles, where she oversees legal affairs, ESG compliance, food safety compliance, and internal process governance. She leads Juicy Marbles’ involvement in the CleanAlgae2Value project, ensuring that all activities align with regulatory requirements, quality standards, and internal workflows. Her work combines legal precision with practical project management, supporting transparent coordination, risk management, and structured execution. She works by the principle that “Precision is not a detail — it’s the foundation.”

Pia Pecik is a Development Specialist at Juicy Marbles, where she focuses on new product development, texture optimization, and the improvement of production processes. She plays a key role in Juicy Marbles’ technical contribution to the CleanAlgae2Value project, ensuring that innovative raw materials such as algae are effectively integrated into product and process development. Her work combines scientific understanding with practical experimentation, supporting smooth production implementation and informed decision-making throughout development.

Eroski

Ainara Llona Iraragorri is Head of Innovation and R&D & Innovation Financing at EROSKI, one of Spain’s leading retail cooperatives. With extensive experience in innovation management, sustainability, and digital transformation, she leads projects that promote circular economy practices, reduce food waste, and enhance supply-chain efficiency. Ainara actively represents EROSKI in several European initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable and consumer-focused retail innovation.

Iker Huarte Leibar is Head of Sales – Bakery and Culinary Solutions at EROSKI, contributing to the company’s efforts in innovation, sustainability and retail operations. Drawing on a background that includes academic work on consumer trends (such as his analysis of prepared‐meals consumption in Spain) he engages with market insights and operational optimization.

Virginia Marquínez González is Head of Own Brand Fresh Products at EROSKI. In this role, she oversees the development and management of the retailer’s fresh-food items under its own brands, coordinating strategies from sourcing through to shelf (including fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood and other fresh categories).

Her work supports EROSKI’s broader commitments to sustainability, local sourcing, healthy nutrition and product innovation.

Ausolan

AMAIA AGIRRE INZA.Amaia Agirre currently holds the position of Head of Corporate Innovation at Ausolan. Her academic background includes degrees in Food Science and Technology and Human Nutrition and Dietetics, complemented by a Master’s degree in Quality Management. Having joined the company in 1996, she progressed to direct the Systems Management area in 2010, overseeing the company’s Management Model and quality systems. In 2016, she also assumed responsibility for Purchasing Management. Since 2018, she has led the Corporate Innovation area, with the strategic aim of fostering an innovation culture and enhancing the competitiveness of Ausolan’s products and services.

ELISABET NARBAIZA IRIONDO

Elisabet Narbaiza serves as an Innovation Technician within AUSOLAN’s Innovation Department. She holds a Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (University of Barcelona, 2020) and a Master’s degree in Public Health (UPV, 2024). After joining AUSOLAN in 2020 as a dietician, she transitioned to the Innovation Department in 2021. In her current capacity, she is responsible for coordinating regional, national, and European projects aimed at optimizing service quality and efficiency.